Nicole, Nicolas

Nicole, Nicolas a French architect, noted in ecclesiastical architecture, was born of poor parents at Besancon in 1701. He was first apprenticed to a blacksmith; but on visiting Paris he determined to relinquish his occupation, entered the free school of Blondel, and after studying some time under that master he returned to Besancon, and was commissioned to erect the church of Refuge, of which the beautiful facade has often been engraved. He afterwards executed the plan for the collegiate church of St. Anne of Soleure, and was invited by the authorities of that city to superintend the execution of the work. The church of the Magdalen, at Besancon, is also the work of Nicole, but it was not completed. These two latter works have been justly criticized as to the details. Nicole had a very lively imagination, and drew his designs with great facility; but his edifices have none of that ever-attractive simplicity which pre-eminently distinguishes the antique. Nicole was honored with the confidence of several successive intendants of the. province of Franche-Comte, and was consulted concerning all architectural projects. He died at Besancon in 1784.